The Fender Custom Shop 1951 Limited Edition Telecaster Heavy Relic celebrates the guitar that sparked a revolution in sound and style. This premium recreation captures the vintage magic of the original Tele that took the world by storm, from its authentic relic'd aesthetic down to its period-accurate components and wiring. Whether you're a collector seeking museum-quality accuracy or a player chasing the holy grail of twang, this '51 Tele will transport you back to the golden age of guitar innovation.

Relic Finish Recaptures 70 Years of Vibe

Just like the road-worn guitars that inspired countless players, this Limited Edition '51 Telecaster has been artificially aged to a Heavy Relic level. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish is riddled with natural-looking scratches, dings and discoloration, while the hardware sports the greenish patina of decades of use. The quartersawn maple neck has been meticulously distressed to look and feel like it's been broken in over generations of playing. Every last detail creates an air of authenticity that will make you feel like you're holding a true vintage prize.

Vintage Construction With Premium Tonewoods

While the relic'd aesthetic evokes the past, this Tele's build specs are thoroughly modern to ensure reliable performance. The two-piece select ash body resonates with bell-like clarity, while the AA flame quartersawn maple neck delivers a smooth, vintage-y playing feel with its 10/'56 V-shaped profile. The 7.25"–9.5" compound radius fingerboard is designed for effortless bending and vibrato anywhere along the neck. Vintage-tall frets, a bone nut and brass bridge saddles add to the vintage-spec appointments you'd expect from a high-end Fender Custom Shop instrument.

Vintage Tone Courtesy of Hand-Wound Pickups

The heart of this '51 Tele's authentic tone comes from its hand-wound '50–'51 Blackguard pickups. Fender's team carefully analyzed and recreated the pickup designs from the Telecaster's earliest days, including the full, punchy tone and signature glassy attack that made the Tele a staple of countless genres. The modified Nocaster wiring harness adds even more flavor with a blender pot that allows you to dial in a brighter "fretted" sound for rhythm parts.

Extras Fit for a Prized Collector's Piece

Fender's attention to detail extends beyond the guitar itself to the premium appointments included with this Telecaster. A black phenolic pickguard, vintage-style tuning machines, disk string tree and '51–'54 Tele bridge with brass saddles complete the period-accurate look. A deluxe hardshell case keeps your new prize protected, while a certificate of authenticity confirms its limited-edition status. With only a handful of these '51 Teles being produced, you're getting a true piece of history that captures lightning in a bottle.